By Anil Jhalli
It’s taking longer than usual this year for the snow to melt off local diamonds, but that hasn’t stopped organizers of the inaugural Baseball Day in Ottawa from dreaming of the sounds of summer.
Local youth baseball players will get the chance to start their seasons even a tad earlier than their usual opening day for the event set for Saturday, April 26 at Ottawa Stadium on Coventry Rd.
Baseball Day is all about bringing exposure to the sport locally, signals lead organizer Andrew Beattie.
“We want to help grow the game, and basically we came up with this idea to have this event to help with that,” recounts the president of the Ottawa Royals Knights Baseball Club, whose organization is spearheading the initiative. “There is growth and there is a demand for baseball, and we want people to get excited for the sport.”
The event will feature free clinics in the morning for players aged 7-15 and equipment demos, followed by a doubleheader with the Ottawa Knights 18-and-under ‘AA’ team taking on the Gatineau Attack U-18 AA side, followed by the Knights 18U Elite squad facing the Carleton Russell Aces.
Organizations affiliated with both Baseball Canada and Little League Canada – traditionally not the friendliest of rivals – have confirmed their participation in the day.
“We want to not only build on the sport, but we want to really unite everyone involved in the sport,” Beattie indicates. “We have so many people who are rallying behind the project, so much support from so many different organizations and groups. It will be a really exciting and fun day for everyone.”
Mayor Jim Watson will throw out the first pitch and read an official Baseball Day in Ottawa proclamation, along with several other dignitaries involved in the opening ceremonies. Beattie anticipates around 300 youngsters will participate in the clinics, while he hopes anywhere between 2,000-4,000 people will come watch the double header baseball games.
Spectators will be encouraged to donate $5 as admission to support the Fergie Jenkins Foundation and the Miracle League of Ottawa, a charity established with the goal of bringing a fully-functional baseball diamond and play structure for children, youth and young adults with disabilities to Notre-Dame-des-Champs Park.
The cost of construction and transforming the existing field in Orleans is just over $1 million, details founder David Gourlay, noting that the project is inching closer to reality thanks to support from the City of Ottawa, local businesses, corporate sponsorships and individual donations.
“We are hoping that everything will be done by at least a year from now,” Gourlay adds. “We want to have our money raised by this Christmas. This is going to be Canada’s first and will give these kids something really fun to do. We are very appreciative of all the support.”
Along with the Canadian American Association of Baseball (or Can-Am League) set to make its return to Ottawa Stadium next summer, Beattie says it’s an exciting time for local baseball.
“The goal for this day is we want people to come out and enjoy what we have to offer and to showcase our teams and really, to show that baseball is growing and continues to grow and that it’s a sport that has lots to offer,” he highlights.